Minack Theatre, Penzance: Address, Phone Number, Minack Theatre Reviews: 5/5
Minack Theatre
Minack Theatre
5
About
This open-air theatre is dramatically situated on the cliffs at Porthcumo, near Land's End, and hosts a season of plays and musicals from March to November.
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Restaurants
11 within 5 kms

Porthcurno Beach Cafe
240
0.6 km£ • Quick Bites • Cafe • British

Cable Station Inn Cornwall
201
0.6 km££ - £££ • Bar • British • Pub

The Logan Rock Inn
673
1.3 km££ - £££ • Bar • British • Pub

Porthgwarra Cove Cafe
152
1.5 km£ • Quick Bites • Cafe • British

Apple Tree Cafe
436
4.2 km££ - £££ • Cafe • Healthy • Vegetarian Friendly

St Buryan Inn
95
4.2 km££ - £££ • Bar • British • Pub

Lands End Coffee Company
13
4.3 km£ • Quick Bites • Cafe

First and Last Inn
676
4.5 km££ - £££ • Bar • British • Pub

190 Degrees West
321
4.7 km£ • Quick Bites • Seafood • Fast food

St Buryan Farm Shop
27
4.8 km£ • British
Attractions
40 within 10 kms

Porthcurno Beach
651
0.2 kmBeaches

The Cable Hut
12
0.3 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks

PK Porthcurno - Museum of Global Communications
572
0.7 kmSpeciality Museums • Points of Interest & Landmarks

South West Coast Path - Land's End Hostel - Porthcurno to Penzance
33
0.5 kmHiking Trails • Scenic Walking Areas

Pedn Vounder Beach
16
0.7 kmBeaches

Sennen Cove Beach
562
Beaches

South West Coast Path - Sennen & Land's End
203
Hiking Trails • Scenic Walking Areas

Tanglewood Wild Garden
274
Gardens

Cape Cornwall
612
Lookouts

Merry Maidens
212
Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks
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Popular mentions
5.0
5,413 reviews
Excellent
4,513
Very good
669
Average
131
Poor
51
Terrible
49
Kevin S
London, UK8 contributions
May 2022
I visited this open air theater back in the day. Now, however, similar to many historic attractions, it is like Fort Knox. The staff are rather haughty (apart from the young parking attendant) and you can't get a glimpse of the site without buying a ticket in advance it is suggested. We arrived late afternoon, with no one around but the staff and were told we could not see the site without buying a ticket for the show that night and, to be honest, the show didn't sound too appealing. All in all, I would think its creator Rowena Cade might be looking down slightly aghast at the present administration. I'd suggest you use the website webcam to avoid disappointment,
Written 25 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
shakespeare076
Knutsford, UK437 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Great performance of The Odyssey in a fabulous location.
Comfy stage seating £18 each.
Good quality ice cream - the best we’d had all week - Roskillys I think 🤔 £2.50 per tub. About 5 flavours to choose from.
If you’re old or infirm book seats towards the top of the cliff - steps are steep in parts and a lot of them to climb.
Toilets are at the top of the cliff.
Free drinking water if you take along your own bottle.
Comfy stage seating £18 each.
Good quality ice cream - the best we’d had all week - Roskillys I think 🤔 £2.50 per tub. About 5 flavours to choose from.
If you’re old or infirm book seats towards the top of the cliff - steps are steep in parts and a lot of them to climb.
Toilets are at the top of the cliff.
Free drinking water if you take along your own bottle.
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Will O
2 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Staff are a bit ditsy, rude and strangely entitled considering their role, also you'll be forced to sit with your shoulders touching those of the people next to you as the staff have a stick to represent the area 2 people should fit into. woe betide you if you try to sit outside of the stocks boundary. This meant elderly people had little room to move and adjust while sat on hard stone or grass seats, being told theyre fully booked.....it turned out there were large gaps left throughout as staff got confused and forced people to pack in while leaving large open areas above or below them.
We went to watch the Oddysey and considered walking out in the first 5 minutes unfortunately. Very juvenile, most of the one man performance was filled out by extended periods of annoying and random sound effects made by the performer. Very little actual story told, mostly just the sound effects. May as well have turned on Cbeebies and saved my money.
Having said that if you pick a decent play im sure itll be worth dealing with the staff and the cramped seating. I did enjoy just sitting there staring at the beautiful sea view even with the performer making electric drill and saw noises to represent the building of the trojan horse......
We went to watch the Oddysey and considered walking out in the first 5 minutes unfortunately. Very juvenile, most of the one man performance was filled out by extended periods of annoying and random sound effects made by the performer. Very little actual story told, mostly just the sound effects. May as well have turned on Cbeebies and saved my money.
Having said that if you pick a decent play im sure itll be worth dealing with the staff and the cramped seating. I did enjoy just sitting there staring at the beautiful sea view even with the performer making electric drill and saw noises to represent the building of the trojan horse......
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
sue w
Camborne, UK4 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
We recently visited the minack to see a show what a beautiful place,an open air theatre on the cliff
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Toffeeuk
United Kingdom43 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Parking really organised, queue for refreshments was very long so gave it a miss. Sat in section D to the left facing the stage. Stone seats so cushion required, also is very steep and seats narrow. Can get cold after sunset, people took their own food and drink and blankets etc.
The show was very entertaining and David did an excellent performance and was very funny.
I would definitely recommend.
The show was very entertaining and David did an excellent performance and was very funny.
I would definitely recommend.
Written 21 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Graham C
Culburra Beach, Australia765 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
It is hard to imagine that one person had the dream, the drive and the skills to create this extraordinary theatre. The roads leading to the Minack Theatre are narrow and a bit hair-raising but it is so worth navigating them to see this amazing place. The gardens are stunning as are the views of Porthcurno Beach and the Cornish coast. Super helpful and super friendly staff add to this special treat. There’s nowhere else in the world like it!
Written 21 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Hillary S
Wigan, UK180 contributions
May 2022
The Minack Theatre is such an incredible place especially when you realise how and why it was built by Rowena Cade BUT paying full price to visit when they are in the middle of a performance week is a bit of a cheek as you can't see the theatre in its purest state.
On this visit the set for the production made it look like a scrap yard.
I have been many times before and am in awe of it but this time I was bringing a friend who had never seen the like before and even she was shocked out what a mess the place looked with old washing machines and rusty metal appliances everywhere.
Also there was no cafe facility available, only an outside servery offering the basic refreshments that was clearly set up for the performance later that day.
The exhibition that explains the life of Rowena Cade is tucked away at the back of the main buildings near the exit and we didn't find it until we were ready to go - we could easily have missed it. How many people do?
On this visit the set for the production made it look like a scrap yard.
I have been many times before and am in awe of it but this time I was bringing a friend who had never seen the like before and even she was shocked out what a mess the place looked with old washing machines and rusty metal appliances everywhere.
Also there was no cafe facility available, only an outside servery offering the basic refreshments that was clearly set up for the performance later that day.
The exhibition that explains the life of Rowena Cade is tucked away at the back of the main buildings near the exit and we didn't find it until we were ready to go - we could easily have missed it. How many people do?
Written 19 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thank you for your feedback and for bringing your friends to see this place, which is so precious to many people.
As you say, Rowena Cade is an inspirational figure and we feel we are following in her footsteps by maintaining the Minack as the working theatre she intended it to be. All the structures she built around the theatre - the pillars, balcony etc, were pieces of scenery for specific productions, which she often knocked down at the end of the show. Today we preserve the theatre structure as it was when she died, but we honour her legacy by keeping it as a living performance space.
People like to enjoy the Minack in their own way, so we provide a range of media to tell Rowena Cade's remarkable story. About 2/3 of visitors, like you, visit the exhibition, others use our audio tour, join one of our tour guides or listen to our actor guide, who tells the story live on stage 3 mornings a week in summer. And some prefer a traditional guide book. It's entirely up to the individual.
We hope we'll be able to welcome you back again in the future, perhaps to see a show here and enjoy the theatre at its most magical.
Written 23 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Patrick
2 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
An amazing half day spent whilst visiting the Cornish coast.
My wife and I stopped here as it was highly recommended by the locals and I can understand why. The perfect place to explore!
My wife and I stopped here as it was highly recommended by the locals and I can understand why. The perfect place to explore!
Written 18 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Lisalu
Maidenhead, UK30 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Absolutely beautful. The setting is unbeatable. The staff are so lovely and helpful and there's not a single thing I would change. Loved every second and I hope I get to come back one day!
Written 15 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Julia
Lichfield, UK38 contributions
May 2022
Everything about it was perfect, we loved it. The views, the atmosphere , the history it was all amazing. Unfortunately we hadn’t tickets for the show that day but it was wonderful anyway. The only slight negative was the car park could have opened up slightly earlier. We were only 15 minutes prior to our allotted ticket time which was at opening time yet weren’t allowed in the car park and as the approach lane was so narrow it created a road block so we just had to move.
Written 12 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Fran
4 contributions
Hi,
In 2015 I saw Glen Tilbrook & Chris Difford at Minack.
I arranged it via a company in St. Ives and this included transport. There was a great crowd on the bus and it was an amazing night. I'm looking to see if anywhere does a similar service.
I'm just about to book tickets for a show in May 2023 and not to have to consider how to get there and back at night would be an added bonus.
Does anyone know of a company in St. Ives or close proximity that may do this?
Thanks
Fran
Alan P
Bromley, UK681 contributions
My wife and I caught a regular bus to get to the theatre. It was a long but scenic trip (30-40mins or so). We arranged for a local taxi company to collect us after the show, believe it was Prowse cabs. Easy to find him at the end of the performance, all went well.
Hope it works for well whatever you decide upon.
Alan T
Chester, UK2 contributions
Is it wheel chair friendly?
Zoe C
Penzance, UK
Hi - you can access the site in a wheelchair and we have a balcony at the top of the auditorium from where you can see the stage and alot of the seating area. Our Exhibition Centre is fully accessible. More information is on the access page on our website which is available from the footer (we can't post the link here as TripAdvisor blocks it).
ajon3s
Treorchy, UK61 contributions
Can you just park and take a look around
Zoe C
Penzance, UK
Hi - you need to book to visit us - we can only offer parking for our visitors. At this time of the year we tend to be sold out although as we get further into the autumn this will not always be the case, however it's best to book anyway so you know we will be open.
Pam K
Redruth, UK20 contributions
What do the seats look like that you sit on,on the stage ,with the backrests
Zoe C
Penzance, UK
This answer is probably too late now, but they are fold out cushions so you sit flat on the stage floor, but the cushion gives you a back rest. Apologies for not answering this sooner.
Nigel H
Chester, UK2 contributions
Hi ....we are soo looking forward to our month long Devonian/Cornish road trip In Margaux motorhome and coming to your lovely area from July 3rd to July 6th, staying near Sennen
We would like to see the showing of Starcrazy we think, at 15.30 on the 6th. We will cycle over on our Ebikes so an afternoon showing is probably best is it? Can we lock them up somewhere safe? Where is the best place to sit ....thinking top of area E....would we see the view as well as the performance? Or lowest D? Are you able to choose your row or approximate seat? Can we explore the gardens afterwards? We're so excited!!
Phew....thanks so much in anticipation for your help...there's a big world out there to explore so .we will probably only visit your theatre this time.....hence the best experience for us would be fab!!
Best wishes
Kate
Zoe C
Penzance, UK
Hi Kate - sorry we have been so slow in answering this - we don't check TripAdvisor messages often enough. You would be best to phone us (if you haven't already) to discuss these questions as they are non straightforward. Our number is 01736 810181.
travellovingteacher
Verwood, UK14 contributions
Do performances ever get cancelled last minute in bad weather?
Morewood
Chester, UK53 contributions
Last year we were booked to attend and there was a really bad storm, torrential rain / winds etc and they did cancel the event and refund us. However I think it has to be pretty bad weather to do that, they will perform in regular rain!
Frequently Asked Questions about Minack Theatre
- We recommend booking Minack Theatre tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 5 Minack Theatre tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Minack Theatre:
- 5-Day Devon and Cornwall Small-Group Tour from London (From £741.45)
- West Cornwall Tour with Poldark Filming Locations (From £635.88)
- Essential Cornwall - the "must see" places (From £457.83)
- Beautiful Cornwall Two Days Private Tour (From £3,489.09)
- Beautiful Cornwall Two Days Private Tour (From £3,489.09)
- Hotels near Minack Theatre:
- (0.02 km) Beachcomber, Porthcurno
- (0.83 km) Sea View House
- (0.89 km) Treen Farm Campsite
- (0.61 km) Porthcurno Holidays
- (4.04 km) Boskenna Home Farm
- Restaurants near Minack Theatre:
- (0.62 km) Porthcurno Beach Cafe
- (0.63 km) Cable Station Inn Cornwall
- (1.28 km) The Logan Rock Inn
- (1.54 km) Porthgwarra Cove Cafe
- (4.15 km) Apple Tree Cafe
- Attractions near Minack Theatre:
- (0.18 km) Porthcurno Beach
- (0.30 km) The Cable Hut
- (0.68 km) PK Porthcurno - Museum of Global Communications
- (0.50 km) South West Coast Path - Land's End Hostel - Porthcurno to Penzance
- (0.66 km) Pedn Vounder Beach